Gas meter prover apparatus



y 24, 1951 E. P. BURCH 2,561,904

GAS METER PROVER APPARATUS Filed Dec. 6, 1948 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 3.

INVENTOF? Emma P3 BURCH July 24, 1951 E. P. BURCH GAS METER PROVER APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 6, 1948 INVENTO R F? BURCH EDSON ATTORNEY the airin theair-tank or prover be'l I I test indicated that the volume of air passed,

Patented July 24, 1951 UNITED srATjEs PATENT Fio Electronicz-Tfi Siergof; Gas Meters; I'nc.,.- St. Louis,

Mo., a .eorporationof Missouri, I ApplicationDecenib'er 6, 19218; SeriarNo. 63,786

This: invention relates: tongas' meter prover apparatus of 'the'type adapted for use in testing the accuracy ofamovement and registrationgof the' registering means of. gas meters bypassing through the gas; meters being. tested;,acourately measured volumes of air, or other fluid, the pie? dominantobj eot of the. invention. being to provide .an.improved apparatus 0f=2thiS type whichis rela .tively simple. in construction" and operation, and is. so; completely automatic in its. operation that the; opportunity, for human error to-efiect. the gas; meter testing operations. is reduced; to a minimum. H U II Commercial gas-meters of various types. -having; bellows displacement means, for dete'rmina tion of the volumeof gas passed through the meters, and provided with geared indexing means for registering said. volume of gas passed through the meters, have, heretofore been researchescuracyby passing through the meters accurately measured volumes of air from..accurately oali} bratedi air tanks or prov erbells e naecteat to-the ,meters. and controlled manually. In making this type of.,te'st, 'the operator observed the movement of theprover index hand Withl res'p'eottofthe meter prover dial whil'e'pas'sing an'amoun't 'of air through the meter that. would" cause "the prover index hand to make one revolutiom'which ,was equivalent; ,to the 'registrationbf passage throughjthe meter of. two cubic feet of 'air; The accuracy of such a test. was dependent. onfltli'e ikeenness of. the eye of the operator'makin'ggthe test, and his coordination of'eye' and handi'finasmuch as thegfiow ofair'to'theimeterfwasshiit ofifmanually by the Operator" when f "ind-9X hand of the meter hadma'de acomplete revolution, asnearly as could bejudged by the eye, 'an d the actual volume passed through the meter I was determined by the" shrinkage in' volume of through the meter was more orless than exactly twocubic feet, the meter was registeredas eithr lfast or slow and proper adjustments were-made of its mechanism-to bring itto aocuracy;-the -test being repeated until the meter" registered ac-. curat'ely; I 1 i The testing" operation briefly described above was subject to a" number of possibilities of error, v and the primepurpose of this inventionfis to provide a simple and improved"testing apparatus in the use and operation of which-'thesepossibilities of error are" eliminated: Briefiy stated, j the starting and-stopping of the gas'meterfprover of the present invention is" controlledautomath waist passed: amine belloftheprover, to the meter under; test. ,The apparatus of the present in.- yentiohidifiers. inits operation from .the manual metentesting method-described above, in that an accurately calibratedprover bell is established. .asrthestandard of: comparison and the flow of a-ir:from.;this.prover bell to the meter under test isacourately controlled in an automatic manner SOL'ESJJO eliminate human error. H I II I T5 1 Fig.1isafrontelevation of. the improved gas meter; prover apparatus of the present invention. 2is a perspective view of aportion of the mete prover 'apparaiu sI f this invention. E i 3fis an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical seetion taken on lin'e 3 of Fig. '1 v i 4 i S a diagrammatical view illustrating the electrical wire arrangement of the improved gas,- meter prover" apparatus of the present i ent n? j 25 In thedrawings, wherein is shown" for purposeso'f illustration, merely; one embodiment of the-invention, 'Ad'esignates in Fig. l the gas meter'prdverj app'aratus'generally." ,Thegas meter prover apparatus."A bmprisesia lowerf tank poruse 'lf'a'rid'a. hell 2 which is 'supportedfor vertical movement ithjrespect to said lower tank poruse L fthe're being a body of water (not' shown) contained i'nthe lower tank portion I whose surface providesthe'bottom wall of an air chamber the ell; The bell 2 has attached to its upp portion, by means of a suitable attaching nt"3f,"a sprocketchain t, said sprocket'ohain I 'assed over a rotatablysupported sheave 15 and having weights -6 attaehedto its free end We tocounterbalance the weight of the m -sag'eor -air into the air: chamber of the=prover .fromfwithin theinterior of the lower tank porbell 2. The pipe 9 is provided also with a pressure regulator II which controls the pressure of the air that passes through said pipe 9 to the air chamber of the prover bell, and additionally said pipe 9 is provided with a connection l2 which is adapted to lead to a pressure gauge (not shown).

Connected into the member 8 is a pipe 13 in which is interposed a magnetic valve l4, .said magnetic valve l4 being connected to a connection l5 into which is also connected a pipe 16 which leads to the inlet of a meter to be tested, said magnetic valve l4 serving to control the flow of air from the prover bell 2 to a meter being tested with the aid of the gas meter prover apparatus. Connected into the pipe I3 is a pipe and fitting assembly [1, and connected into said pipe and fitting assembly I! is a'magnetic valve [8 which, as will presently appear herein, serves to control leveling of the prover bell 2 by venting air from said bell to atmosphere. Additionally, the general pipe .assemblyof the gas meter prover apparatus includes a pipe and fitting assembly l9 which provides a by-pass around the magnetic valves l4 and l8,.one:end of said by-pass being connected into a fitting 23 which is connected in the pipe 9, and the opposite end of said by-pass being connected into the fitting l5 into which the magnetic valve 14 and the pipe it are connected. The pipe and fitting assembly l9 which provides the by-pass around the magnetic valves l4 and I8 has interposed therein a manually operable valve =2l which, on actuation thereof, permits air to flow from the prover bell 2 to the meter being tested to allow for manual testing of the meter, if required, or to permit purging of the meter so as to bring the prover index dial hand of the meter to its starting position. If desired, the fitting I5 may have connected thereto a suitable thermometer T, in order that the temperature of the air passing to the meter being tested may be indicated.

The improved gas meter prover apparatus of this invention is provided with a control unit B sheave 5, previously referred to herein. Also, forming a part of the control unit B is a disk 22 which is fixedly supported, and a shaft 23 which is supported in a horizontal position by a bracket 24, said bracket in turn being supported by a frame structure 25 which is suitably mounted atop the lower tank portion 1 of the gas meter prover apparatus A, as is shown in Fig. 1. The disk 22 has mounted thereon a plurality of electrical switch contacts which are designated, respectively, by the reference characters 26, 21, 28, 29 and 30. Additionally, the disk 22 supports a limit switch 3|, which serves a purpose to be hereinafter set forth. The switch contacts 26, 21, 28, 29 and 3|] may be of any suitable construction and arrangement but for purposes of this disclosure such switch contacts are illustrated as being of the type having each aresilient leaf formed of electrical conductive material.

By referring to Fig. 3 it will be noted that the disk 22 is provided with a bearing 32, formed of electrical insulating material, through which the shaft 23 extends for axial rotation therein, and fixedly mounted on the outer end portion of the shaft 23 is a contact arm 33 which is-adapted to make electrical contact with the switch contacts 26, 21, 28, 29 and 30, said arm 33 being adapted, also, to mechanically actuate the limit switch 31 when it makes mechanical contact with a movable actuating part 3| thereof. The shaft 23 is provided with an insulating coupling 34 between parts thereof, and contacting with the forward portion of said shaft is a collector spring 35 which is supported by a stud 36 that extends rearwardly from the disk 22, as is shown in Fig. 3. This collector spring is electrically connected into the electrical wiring system of the improved gas met'er'prover apparatusso that said forward portion of the shaft 23 and the switch arm 33 carried thereby are energized when power is on.

which includes the sprocket chain 4 and the 3:45

33 to one of the switch contacts and 30 when the contact arm 33 contacts with Also, the switch contacts 26, 21, 28, 29 and 30, and thelimit switch 3| are electrically connected into the electrical wiring system of the improved gas meter prover apparatus with the result that electrical energy is passed from the contact arm 26, 21, 28, 29

said one of said switch contacts, and during such contact engagement. The disk 22 is held stationary by a bracket arm 31 which is secured at one of its ends to the bracket 24 and at its opposite end to said disk. Also, the switchcontacts 26, 2'1, 28, 23, and 30, and the limit switch are suitably electrically insulated from the disk In describing the operation of the improved gas meter prover apparatus of the present invention, it will be assumed that the electrical power is off and that the prover hell 2 is in its lowermost position with a meter to be tested connected to the prover apparatus. Let it be assumed, also, that it is desired to pass two cubic feet of air through the meter being tested in performing the meter testing apparatus. As is shown in Fig. 4, the electrical wiring system of the gas meter prover A includes a selector switch 38 which includes a movable contact element 38, and fixed contacts 39, .40, 4| and 42. The movable contact element 38 of the selector switch 38 is movable into and out of contact engagement with respect to said contacts 39, 40,741 and 42, and in preparing for a meter testsaidmovable contact element of the selector switch is moved into contact with the proper contact of the contacts 39, 40, M, and 42, the contact 4B, forinstance. Additionally, the wiring systemof the gas meter prover includes an air switch 43 (Fig.

4) and in preparing for a meter test this air switch is closed, as is the power switch 44. This energizes and opens the air valve I!) so as to cause air to flow into the bell2 causing said bell to move upwardly, and during such upward move- "ment of the hell 2 the switch arm 33 of the control .unitB rotates with respect to the disk 22.. When the bell 2 reaches its extreme upper position the switch arm 33 of the control unit engages and actuates the limit switch 3| whereby the air valve in is de-energized and closed to place the prover in condition for a test. I

The actual test is started by depressing a start button. momentarily and this energizes a relay 46 which seals itself in through contacts 46. The

relay contacts 48 open thereby disabling the air valve circuit sothat said air valve will-not open as soon as the switch arm 33 of the control 'unit B moves away from the limit switch 3|, and relay contacts 49 close so as to energize and open the vent valve l3 and release air in the prover bell2 to atmosphere and thus permit the prover .bell to descend.

As the bell 2 descends the switch arm 33 of the control unit B rotates in a clockwise direction, 76 H and-whe the h l s ends. a. roi trhe iis connected by the v I I tch arm 33 makes electrical contact with itchflcontact 26,.which represents the. zero ,point -;on the scale 2' of the pro'ver bell, the conteet rs! ar picked up with the result that'said ,contacts'elir'ii are sealed in through the'contacts 5,0, and a relay 5! de-energizes the vent valve 58 ,byfope'ningthe Contacts 5! and opens the valve 14 by closing the contacts 46. v The closing and ,opening of the valves. lt'and, M transfersjthe flow v of ,air from. atmosphere to the meter being tested :so', that air'fis'caused to flow from the descending pen {through the meter under test, such new of ,airltotheimeter startingat the zero point of the I. ffIhe'ltestis endedby the switch arm 33 moving into contact engagement with whichever switch zcontactz'l, 241, 29, or is connected by the elector switch 38 to'the relayfiilf' In Fig.4 thetvvo :c'ubidfeet switch contact "28 of the control unit selector switch 38 to the relay 53" and whenthe switch arm'of the control uniteB contacts with the switch contact 28 the test is ended by theopening of the contacts 55,

, s i w, tested, an electrically actuatedyalve interposed in aid conducting means and operable to ge oi testing medium from said aate ab e me be 9 me -be legtrical means, for controlling actulectrically actuated valve, the lastelectrical means for controlling actusuch opening: off saidcontacts 55;; die-energizing I the relay 5!, which drops out, opening contacts 50'ir'1 the circuit of the'valve 'M'so' as to "de='energize and close said valve it. Contacts 55 also opentherebydropping outrelay 5.5 whereupon contacts tlfi reclose, re-establishing the circuit ofrthair valve Ill, and the prover bell refillswith air until the limit switch can: the control unit 13 ;is actuated; and the air valve it is deenergized. {She prover-is now ready for the next test and whem again set in operationto perform another test the depression of the start button will first de-energize the relay 53, since it is left sealed in after every test, the second test being otherwise the same as described above. The operation of the purge button simplyopens the valve is while closing the valve it.

It is important to note that the switch contacts "26, 21, 28, 29 and'tii of the control unit B are related, respectively, to the zero, one, two, four,

and five cubic feet marks on the scale 2' of the' hell 2 of the gas meter prover A, and that the switch contacts 2?, 2B, 29, and 3B are electrically connected, respectively, to the contacts 39, to, El, and 42 of the selector switch 38. Therefore, the amount of air passed through a meter under test may be established by merely setting the movable contact element 38 of the selector switch 38 on the appropriate selector switch contact, and

the descent of the bell during a test will stop when the switch arm 33 of the control unit B contacts with the switch contact 21, 2'8, 29, or 313 which is in electrical connection with the contact of the selector switch 38 that is in contact engagement with the selector switch element 38'.

The switch contacts 2%, 21, 28, 29, and 30 of the control unit B are of the Wiping type and since said contacts are closed on movement of the switch arm 33 in either direction on upward or downward movement of the prover hell 2, provision must be made to de-energize the zero switch contact 26 on upward movement of the prover bell. This is accomplished by the lock-in contacts 53 which, when the prover reaches the reset position, locks in the relay 53 until the bell 2 has re-cycled and the start button is pressed.

I claim:

1. A meter-testing apparatus comprising a prover including a movable member providing a chamber for a meter-testing medium, conduit means leading from said chamber of said movable member and adapted to be connected to a y eiit of saidl'mo'vable member of the prover ma otatable; manner with respect to the otherlcf lsaidjunits to bring about efiective contacte'ng'agern'er'lt'between said contact member and oneo'f said contact elements of said plurality of contactfelernent's sof'asfto cause electrical actujatio'npf 'aid electrically actuated valve.

A mgr-testing apparatus comprising a prover including a movable member providing a chamber for a meter-testing medium, conduit means leading from said chamber of said movable member and adapted to be connected to a meter to be tested, an electrically actuated valve interposed in said conducting means and operable to control passage of testing medium from said chamber of said movable member to a meter being tested, and electrical means for controlling actuation of said electrically actuated valve, the last-mentioned means comprising a switch including a. unit in the form of a contact member and a unit in the form of a plurality of contact elements, one of said units being movable in response to movement of said movable member of the prover in a rotatable manner with respect to the other of said units to bring about eiiective contact engagement between said contact mem-- her and one of said contact elements of said plurality of contact elements so as to cause electrical actuation of said electrically actuated valve, and means for selecting and rendering eiiective one or another of said contact elements.

4. A meter-testing apparatus comprising a prover including a movable member providing a chamber for a meter-testing medium, conduit means leading from said chamber of said movable member and adapted to be connected to a. meter to be tested, an electrically actuated valve interposed in said conducting means and operable to control passage of testing medium from said chamber of said movable member to a meter being tested, and electrical means for controlling actuation of said electrically actuated valve, the last-mentioned means comprising a switch includin a unit in the form of a contact member and a unit in the form of a plurality of contact elements, one of said units being movable in response to movement of said movable member of the prover in a rotatable manner aid units being movable in response 7 with respect to theother of said units to brin about effective contact engagement between said contact member and one of said contact elements ofsaid plurality of contact elements so as to cause electrical actuation of saidelectrically actuated valve, and electrical means for selectin and rendering effective one or another of said contact elements. 5. A meter-testing apparatus comprising a prover including a movable bell providing a chamber for a meter-testing medium, a flexible element attached to said bell, a rotatably supported member over which said flexible element passes, conduit means leading from said cham ber of said bell and adapted to be connected to a meter to be tested, an electrically actuated valve interposed in said conducting means and operable to control passage of testing medium from said chamber of said bell to a meterbeing tested, and electrical means for controllingactuation of said electrically actuated valve, the

last-mentioned means comprising a switch including a unit in the form of a contact member and aunit in the form of a plurality of contact elements, one of said units being rotatable with said rotatably supported member in response to movement of said hell with respect to the other of said units to bring about effective contact engagement between said contact member and one of said contact elements of said plurality of contact elements so as to cause electrical actuation of said electrically actuated valve.

6. A meter-testing apparatus comprising a prover including a movable bell providing a chamber for a meter-testing medium, a flexible element attached to said bell, a rotatably supported member over which said flexible element passes,. conduit means leading from said chamber of said bell and adapted to be connected to a meter to be tested, an electrically actuated valve interposed in said conducting meansand. operable to control passage of testing medium from said chamber of said bell to a meter being tested, electrical means for controlling actuation of said electrically actuated valve, the lastmentioned means comprising a switch including a unit in the form of a contact member and a unit in the form of a plurality of contactelements, one of said units bein rotatable with said rotatably supported member in response to movement of said hell with respect to the other of said units to bring about effective contact engagement between said contact member and one of said contact elements of said plurality of contact elements so as to cause electrical actuation of said electrically actuated valve, and means for selecting and rendering effective one or another of said contact elements. I EDSON P. BURCH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS I Date 

